Morocco's Minister for Energy Transition, Leila Benali, discussed the country's green energy achievements and ambitious goals. She emphasized Morocco's role as a green bridge between Africa, Europe, and the Atlantic Basin, and highlighted efforts in green hydrogen, energy efficiency, and tripling investments in renewable energy projects. Morocco's Minister for Energy Transition and Sustainable Development has talked green with Bloomberg on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany, set to take place later in February. Leila Benali detailed the renewable energy landscape, Morocco's green achievements, inspiration, and objectives. In a seven-minute interview with Bloomberg TV's Horizons Middle East and Africa, Benali revealed that Morocco has currently «exceeded its 42% target of renewable energy installed in our electricity capacity». The country is also pushing ahead ambitiously to reach its 52% target before 2030, which is its number one priority. The second axis is energy efficiency. «It's an area in which we have been a bit late», admitted the minister. However, she promised that Morocco is planning to «reach 20% energy efficiency before 2030». Morocco as a renewable energy bridge The third axis for Morocco is regional integration. The minister explains that Morocco is working to be the green bridge between Africa, Europe, and the Atlantic Basin. «We believe that Africa, being the last productive capacity reservoir for the world to handle the issues of climate change and energy transitions, puts Morocco at the forefront of being that bridge between Africa, Europe, and the Atlantic Basin», she exclaimed. To achieve that, the minister mentioned Morocco's efforts to triple the pace of investments in renewable energy and increase grid investments fivefold annually. When asked about the increasing global financial investments in renewable energy projects, Benali said Morocco is positioning itself as a leader with 15 years of experience in «developing energy projects, renewable energy projects, and more than 30 years of attracting private finance and private investments». It is the way of no return for Morocco, according to the minister. «I think it's very difficult to see a total return to the traditional energy space. I believe there will be a reconfiguration of the value chains, where the most competitive winners will emerge, and I strongly believe that Morocco is one of those highly competitive actors capable of developing renewable energy without subsidies». Commenting on projects transporting renewable energy from Morocco to the UK, Benali said such projects align with Morocco's «energy vision». Similar projects allow Morocco to establish an OCT corridor—a transmission or supply corridor that connects Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) to renewable energy infrastructure. «The only OCT corridor between Africa, Europe, and the Atlantic Basin», the minister even ruled out. Green hydrogen As for green hydrogen, Benali stated that it is also a «key driver» of what Morocco is trying to achieve. However, learning lessons from its 15 years of green experience, Morocco is taking gradual steps toward the technology. «We tend to do things very gradually so that we can cater for technological, industrial, and commercial risks and mature technologies», she explained. One of those first steps is the Green Hydrogen Offer, launched by the Moroccan government. This offer is meant to provide a shortcut for local and international investors willing to take risks in introducing green hydrogen in the country, «cutting through all the bureaucracy». «We have a number of building blocks in place when it comes to infrastructure, pipelines, ports, and also access to land—enabling those investors to cut through the bureaucracy entailed in these types of projects», she concluded.
